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Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Interviews: What Impression Are You Making?

Photo by Mr. Stokey (Creative Commons)

Below is an excerpt from a blog post written by career coach Alex Freund. I wanted to share it because it really speaks to the importance of getting constructive feedback and having the "total package" when being considered for a career opportunity: the appropriate attire, the words, the overall first impression.

...As a career coach, I
counsel people every day—not only on how to answer interview questions
correctly and how to avoid interview traps but also on how to let your
body communicate the message you want to convey. Hiring managers and
human resources folks read your body language and can tell whether there’s congruence between what you say in words and what your body says in motions.

Part of my coaching covers how to dress
properly for an interview. I use an evaluation system to make sure you
convey the right image...It doesn’t cause me pleasure to tell clients to
upgrade their clothing to fit the 21st century. Or to replace their eyeglass frame with something more contemporary. Or to
rethink their outdated hairstyle. Or even simply to get a haircut. An
interviewee’s shoes need to be polished, and socks better match. But all
of that is only part of the image a job candidate leaves behind and
which will heavily influence the impression made on others. The words
the interviewee uses are important too, but even that is not all. The overall image—the total impression—is what will be remembered.

My advice is that you ask a trusted source to tell you the truth
about the impression you make and the image you leave behind. Family
members are not the right people to ask. And don’t jeopardize a
friendship by asking the wrong question and causing unease or
embarrassment. It’s best to hire [someone] who is paid for giving
such advice.